■ TEACHING, LEARNING AND STUDENT SUCCESS

Wayne Law Expungement Fair changes lives

Inaugural fair provides free legal services to more than 250 eligible community members
Landscape close-up photograph view of Wayne Law student Stanley “CJ” Blackman and Miller Johnson Attorney Richard Cherry standing side by side each other discussing a white paper document that Stanley Blackman is holding in his left hand as Richard Cherry has a pen in his right hand while both of them are inside a classroom setting; The expungement fair allowed students to connect with experienced professionals and gain practical legal skills. Wayne Law student Stanley “CJ” Blackman partnered with Miller Johnson Attorney Richard Cherry during the fair. Together they worked collaboratively to aid the fair’s attendees.
The expungement fair allowed students to connect with experienced professionals and gain practical legal skills. Wayne Law student Stanley “CJ” Blackman partnered with Miller Johnson Attorney Richard Cherry during the fair. Together they worked collaboratively to aid the fair’s attendees.
W

ayne Law’s commitment to community and teamwork was on full display at an expungement fair in November.

Through a collaboration with Wayne Law, the State Attorney General’s Office, the Miller Johnson law firm, Safe & Just Michigan, the Wayne State University School of Social Work, and the Michigan State Police, more than 250 eligible people received free legal and wrap-around social services. Led by Gilbert Family Foundation Fellow Elizabeth Stapleton, the fair determined each person’s eligibility for expungement. For those who qualified, volunteer attorneys assisted in beginning the expungement process.

Portrait photograph of three women smiling standing side by side each other at a blue booth table filled with assorted documents, index cards, highlighter markers, etc. inside a room area at The Wayne Law Expungement Fair, which brought together professionals and students from various paths and career experiences; Collaborating with the State Attorney General’s Office, Miller Johnson Law Firm, Safe and Just Michigan, the Wayne State School of Social Work, and the Michigan State Police, the fair provided over 250 people with free legal services and wrap-around social services.
The Expungement Fair brought together professionals and students from various paths and career experiences. Collaborating with the State Attorney General’s Office, Miller Johnson Law Firm, Safe and Just Michigan, the Wayne State School of Social Work, and the Michigan State Police, the fair provided over 250 people with free legal services and wrap-around social services.
The Michigan State Police provided fingerprinting services, application fees were covered for some of the participants, and a portion of the project was funded by the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

Wayne Law’s Director of Experiential Education and Pro Bono Initiatives and Professor (Clinical) of Law Rebecca Robichaud singled out Stapleton for praise. “Elizabeth’s vision and hard work brought this event to fruition. We have been fortunate to have such wonderful fellows this year who have expanded our capacity to serve the Detroit community.”

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel’s motivating speech kicked off the event. Rapper Christian Mathis, better known by his stage name Trick Trick, provided personal testimony and encouragement to the audience to see the expungement process through to the finish.

Wayne State Master of Studies in Law student Lawrence Black also volunteered at the fair. “I’ve been a paralegal volunteer for the City of Detroit’s Project Clean Slate program for the last two and a half years since the law went into effect. I’ve also assisted at the Third Precinct clean slate events and numerous other expungement events throughout the city, so I have witnessed the need statewide for these services. I was more than happy to volunteer my time for this cause and proud that my school, Wayne Law, hosted it.”

Back to issue